Under the auspices of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a pilot initiative has been launched in Chandigarh aimed at establishing a mechanism to deliver timely medical aid to victims of road accidents, particularly during the crucial golden hour. The program seeks to reduce fatalities resulting from road accidents by offering cashless treatment to victims caused by motor vehicle incidents.
Administered under the supervision of the National Health Authority (NHA) in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and State Health Agencies (SHA), the pilot program pledges cashless medical care for accident victims, providing coverage up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakhs per person per accident for a duration of 7 days from the accident date. This comprehensive initiative encompasses all road accidents involving motor vehicles across any road category and incorporates trauma and polytrauma care packages under AB PM-JAY.
Hospitals catering to accident victims will have the option to seek reimbursement from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. The program’s operations will be facilitated through an integrated IT platform merging the functionalities of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ eDAR application with the National Health Authority’s Transaction Management System (TMS). The nationwide expansion of this cashless treatment initiative will be contingent upon the outcomes observed during the pilot program’s implementation phase.
